Joltz
2007-07-03, 11:11 PM
I recently purchased Unearthed Arcana and found the sanity system to be fairly interesting. I'm hoping to include it in most of my future campaigns. I was talking to one of my friends about it and somehow we got on the subject of illusions freaking people out. He ended up requesting a Craft (Disturbing Image) skill, and here's what I have so far
Craft (Disturbing Mental Image)
Characters using Craft (disturbing mental image) cause sanity loss to the target. Anytime the character wishes to use this skill they make a Craft (disturbing mental image) as a part of whatever action they are using to deliver the image to the target(s). It takes a truly sick mind to shake the foundations of another being’s sanity.
Craft (disturbing mental image) DCs
{table=head]DC|Sanity Loss Success/Failure
25|
0/ 1d4|
30|
1/ 2d4|
35|
1/ 3d4|
40|
2/ 4d4|
45|
2/ 5d4|
50|
3/ 6d4|
55|
3/ 7d4[/table]
The creator must also make a sanity check at the time he creates the image or take the same sanity loss. If dice would be rolled, treat these as having rolled minimum. Sanity resistance doesn’t apply to the creator’s sanity loss.
Possible delivery methods for these disturbing images include
• Spoken words
• Works of art
• Some illusion spells
If the crafter uses spoken words to deliver the disturbing image, he takes a -2 penalty for every 5 ranks more he has in this skill than in Perform (Oratory) because their words lack proper impact and vocabulary. Anyone who hears the crafter speak and understands what he is saying is subject to the sanity loss.
Sanity loss from spoken words is capped at 2d4+1d4/5 ranks the target has in Craft (Disturbing Mental Image) because an innocent mind won't naturally form the truly horrible images described to it.
If the crafter uses art to deliver his image he takes a -2 penalty for every 5 ranks more he has in this skill than in the related Craft skill (ex. Craft [painting]) because his horrifying idea cannot be adequately expressed by his meager artwork. Anyone who sees the details of the artwork for the first time is subject to sanity loss from the image, but is generally unaffected by subsequent viewings of the same artwork.
If the caster uses an illusion spell to deliver his effect he gains a circumstance bonus equal to the level of the spell used. If the user has Spell Focus or Greater Spell focus (illusion), these bonuses apply as well. This form of image is highly versatile and may be expressed in any number of ways. It may be a unique image directly from the caster’s mind, or it may mimic terrifying monsters. If a caster attempts to recreate a monster that would normally cause sanity loss but ends up with sanity loss far less than the creature’s normal value this represents the caster’s imagination being unable to accurately represent the creature’s horrifying details. Conversely if the monster is more terrifying it would represent the caster’s imagination adding even more horrible things beyond the creature’s normal hideousness.
Common illusions used for this purpose include silent image, minor image, and programmed image although any spell that creates a visual effect that comes directly from the caster’s mind works. Disbelieving an illusion only prevents sanity loss if it’s disbelieved before the character has time to look at it and freak out.
Special: Orally delivered disturbing images gain a +2 synergy bonus from Perform (oratory). Artistic disturbing images gain a +2 synergy bonus from the appropriate Craft skill. Also, Please note that while you may voluntarily penalize your check (so your illusory zombie isn’t too horrifying to be believed or something) to reduce the sanity loss to your target, the creator takes the sanity loss of the un-penalized roll.
I intend to use sanity resistance equal to 1/2 character level so even at high levels it balances out a bit (I think) and prevents you from shattering the minds of people with the same level as you. I added the unavoidable sanity loss to the user to prevent people from going overboard with it and winning every encounter with sentient creatures by causing them to curl into a fetal position.
I've never played with a sanity system, so I don't really know how this would work out. I'd appreciate some experienced help to make sure it's balanced.
Craft (Disturbing Mental Image)
Characters using Craft (disturbing mental image) cause sanity loss to the target. Anytime the character wishes to use this skill they make a Craft (disturbing mental image) as a part of whatever action they are using to deliver the image to the target(s). It takes a truly sick mind to shake the foundations of another being’s sanity.
Craft (disturbing mental image) DCs
{table=head]DC|Sanity Loss Success/Failure
25|
0/ 1d4|
30|
1/ 2d4|
35|
1/ 3d4|
40|
2/ 4d4|
45|
2/ 5d4|
50|
3/ 6d4|
55|
3/ 7d4[/table]
The creator must also make a sanity check at the time he creates the image or take the same sanity loss. If dice would be rolled, treat these as having rolled minimum. Sanity resistance doesn’t apply to the creator’s sanity loss.
Possible delivery methods for these disturbing images include
• Spoken words
• Works of art
• Some illusion spells
If the crafter uses spoken words to deliver the disturbing image, he takes a -2 penalty for every 5 ranks more he has in this skill than in Perform (Oratory) because their words lack proper impact and vocabulary. Anyone who hears the crafter speak and understands what he is saying is subject to the sanity loss.
Sanity loss from spoken words is capped at 2d4+1d4/5 ranks the target has in Craft (Disturbing Mental Image) because an innocent mind won't naturally form the truly horrible images described to it.
If the crafter uses art to deliver his image he takes a -2 penalty for every 5 ranks more he has in this skill than in the related Craft skill (ex. Craft [painting]) because his horrifying idea cannot be adequately expressed by his meager artwork. Anyone who sees the details of the artwork for the first time is subject to sanity loss from the image, but is generally unaffected by subsequent viewings of the same artwork.
If the caster uses an illusion spell to deliver his effect he gains a circumstance bonus equal to the level of the spell used. If the user has Spell Focus or Greater Spell focus (illusion), these bonuses apply as well. This form of image is highly versatile and may be expressed in any number of ways. It may be a unique image directly from the caster’s mind, or it may mimic terrifying monsters. If a caster attempts to recreate a monster that would normally cause sanity loss but ends up with sanity loss far less than the creature’s normal value this represents the caster’s imagination being unable to accurately represent the creature’s horrifying details. Conversely if the monster is more terrifying it would represent the caster’s imagination adding even more horrible things beyond the creature’s normal hideousness.
Common illusions used for this purpose include silent image, minor image, and programmed image although any spell that creates a visual effect that comes directly from the caster’s mind works. Disbelieving an illusion only prevents sanity loss if it’s disbelieved before the character has time to look at it and freak out.
Special: Orally delivered disturbing images gain a +2 synergy bonus from Perform (oratory). Artistic disturbing images gain a +2 synergy bonus from the appropriate Craft skill. Also, Please note that while you may voluntarily penalize your check (so your illusory zombie isn’t too horrifying to be believed or something) to reduce the sanity loss to your target, the creator takes the sanity loss of the un-penalized roll.
I intend to use sanity resistance equal to 1/2 character level so even at high levels it balances out a bit (I think) and prevents you from shattering the minds of people with the same level as you. I added the unavoidable sanity loss to the user to prevent people from going overboard with it and winning every encounter with sentient creatures by causing them to curl into a fetal position.
I've never played with a sanity system, so I don't really know how this would work out. I'd appreciate some experienced help to make sure it's balanced.